End closure for an easy opening resealable container

ABSTRACT

An end closure for an easy opening resealable container, the end having a dispensing aperture initially sealed by an internal sealing layer adhered to the inner surface of the end around the aperture and a plug type resealing member extending through said aperture and bonded to said sealing layer. The plug type resealing member is provided with a lower portion which is smaller than the dispensing aperture and extends therethrough, the bottom wall thereof being bonded to the sealing layer. The upper portion of the resealing member is larger than the dispensing aperture and is provided with a depending straight wall which fits into the aperture with interference between the peripheral wall of the aperture and the depending straight wall of the resealing member to thereby releasably seal the easy opening container subsequent to the tearing of the sealing layer.

United States Patent Balocca et al.

[ Apr. 16, 1974 END CLOSURE FOR AN EASY OPENING RESEALABLE CONTAINER[75] Inventors: Alfred Edward Balocca, Wheaton;

Richard Joseph Brincks', Wheeling; James Edwin Scott, Jr., Des Plaines,

all of I11.

[73] Assignee: American Can Company,

Greenwich, Conn.

[22] Filed: July 10, 1972 21 1 Appl. No.: 270,325

[52] US. Cl. 220/27, 220/42 B, 220/44 R, 220/53 [51] Int. Cl B65d 17/00[58] Field of Search 220/53, 27, 29, 44 R, 60 R, 220/42 B [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,583,595 6/1971 Eieko 220/533,441,167 4/1969 Balocca 3,701,453 10/1972 Platt et al 220/60 R PrimaryExaminer-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert P. Auber; JosephJ. Orlando; George P. Ziehmer 5 7] ABSTRACT An end closure for an easyopening resealable container, the end having a dispensing apertureinitially sealed by an internal sealing layer adhered to the innersurface of the end around the aperture and a plug type resealing memberextending through said aperture and bonded to said sealing layer, Theplug type resealing member is provided with a lower portion which issmaller than the dispensing aperture and extends therethrough, thebottom wall thereof being bonded to the sealing layer. The upper portionof the rescaling member is larger than the dispensing aperture and isprovided with a depending straight wall which fits into the aperturewith interference between the peripheral wall of the aperture and thedepending straight wall of the rescaling member to thereby releasablyseal the easy opening container subsequent to the tearing of the sealinglayer.

17 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR is 1974 SHEEI 2 OF 3 ENDCLOSURE FOR AN EASY OPENING RESEALABLE CONTAINER The present inventionrelates generally to easy opening containers'such as cans. Moreparticularly the present invention relates to easy opening containerswhich are releasably resealable by means of a plug type resealingmember.

In recent years thre has been much activity directed to the developmentof containers which may be or may not be subjected to internal pressure,and which are capable of being easily opened without the use of canopeners or other special opening tools. One type of easy openingcontainer construction which has been developed utilizes a metal pulltab secured to a scored, removable section formed in the container endclosure. The score is ruptured and the section removed from thecontainer and closure by the exertion of sufficient force on the pulltab, the pull tab and removed section then being disposed of. However,this construction isburdened with the disadvantage that means are notprovided for resealing the container once the pull tab and scoredsection are removed. Thus, the contents of the opened container-mustusually be transferred to another container capable of being resealedorconsumed relatively quickly. If not and the contents are permitted toremain in the unsealed container it may be necessary to eventuallydiscard them on account of contamination of other reasons and inaddition there is the likelihood that the container will be overturnedthereby spilling the contents. Another container construction, suitablefor easy opening, utilizes a tab which may or may not be integrallyformed with the container end closure and which is depressable into thecan body. The main purpose of this type of construction is theelimination of littering which may result from the unconcerneddiscarding of removable sections of the container. However, even thistype of end closure construction is subject to the same disadvantage asthe pull tab construction in that no means are provided for resealingthe container once it has been opened.

Another type of easy opening container construction which hasrecently'been developed provides an internal sealing patch adhered tothe inner surface of the container end around the dispensing aperture.In this construction the opening means provides is an external memberwhich is adhered to that portion of the sealing patch covering theaperture and which extends above the can end so that when removed theportion of the sealing patch co-extensive with the aperture is tornagainst the periphery of the aperture severing it from the balance ofthe patch. The periphery of the aperture is provided with a sharpcutting edge against which the sealing patch can be readily torn. A latedevelopment in this last mentioned easy opening container is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,167, to Balocca, granted Apr. 29, I969. TheBalocca patent discloses a container having an aperture being surroundedby a raised bead which provides a seat for a plug type plastic reclosuremember which is inserted through the aperture and bonded to that portionof the sealing patch which internally covers and seals the aperture. Theperiphery of the aperture, due to the annular bead, is disposed aboveboth the plane of the central panel of the end and the sealing patch tothereby insure against prematurely rupturing the sealing patch duringtransportation and handling of the container. The removal of the plastietype plug from the container causes the sealing patch to be torn 'at thesharp edge of the aperture periphery thereby leaving a flange-likeextension at the bottom portion of the plug. The container may then bereclosed by reinsertion of the plug into the aperture and engagement ofthe flange-like extension with the underside of the container end at theperiphery of the aperture. If there is internal pressure within thecontainer subsequent to the reclosing thereof, the flangelike extensionof the plug which is engaged with the underside of the container isforced thereagainst thereby resealing the container. However, ifthere'be no internal pressure within the container no resealing occursand the contents can be readily spilled. Thus, although a reclosuremember is provided with this type of container it provides at most avery imperfect and inadequate seal.

One disadvantage common to all of the above end closure constructions istheir relative inability to hermetically seal the containers. Thus, inall the mentioned constructions, when the container contains acarbonated beverage or other gas producing product, the gas readilytends to leak out of the container leaving the product flat and in somecases undrinkable.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide acontainer which is initially sealed and easily opened without the aid ofspecial tools, and in addition may be releasably resealed to preventinadvertent spillage of the contents and to hermetically seal thecontainer.

The easy opening container of the present invention includes a containerend closure seamed about its periphery to a container body, the endclosure being provided with a dispensing aperture. The dispensingaperture is initially sealed by an internal sealing patch adhered to theinner surface of the end around the aperture. A plug type resealingmember is provided which extends through the aperture and is bonded tothe sealing patch so that upon removal of the resealing member from thecontainer a portion of the sealing patch coextensive with the dispensingaperture is torn away, thus breaking the seal and opening the container.The

plug type resealing member is provided with a lower portion which issmaller than the dispensing aperture and extends therethrough, thebottom wall being bonded to the internal sealing patch. The upperportion of the resealing member is larger than the dispensing apertureand is provided with a depending straight wall which fits into theaperture with interference between the peripheral wall of the apertureand the depending straight wall of the resealing member.

The present invention will be described and understood more readily whenconsidered together with the embodiments depicted in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top portion of an easy openingresealable container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the plastic, plug type, pull tabremoved from the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the container ofFIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the containersimilar to FIG. 3 with the plug type pull tab partially removed from thecontainer;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the containersimilar to FIG. 3, but in the resealed condition;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional detailed view of a portion ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional detailed view of a portion ofFIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of a slightlymodified form of theeasy opening resealable container of the presentinvention.

Now referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the upperportion of an easy opening resealable container, generally designated10, having an end closure 12 incorporating the easy opening resealablefeature of the present invention secured to the end of the containerbody 14 in any acceptable manner. The container body 14 may be of anyconventional type having a suitable bottom end closure (not shown)secured thereto.

End closure 12 is formed with a generally planar central panel,generally designated 16, surrounded by a peripheral reinforcing bead 18which at its outer edge merges into upwardly extending countersink wall20. The upper portion of wall 20 merges with outwardly extending flange22 which, after assembly of container body 14 and end closures 12,becomes a portion of seam 24. End closure 12, as well as container body14, may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination ofmaterials such as tin plate, coated steel, aluminum, plastic, etc.

End closure 12 is provided with a dispensing aperture, generallydesignated 26, and also may be provided with a vent aperture, generallydesignated 28, as most clearly seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The apertures,while depicted in the drawing as being circular, may be of any suitableshape such as key hole, oval, radially elongated, tear drop, etc. Whilethe size of aperture 26 is not critical it is to some extent dependenton the product (not shown) packaged in the container. Thus, when thecontainer is subjected to internal pressure, such as when the contentsare carbonated beverages, aperture 26 should be as small as is consonantwith proper pouring in order to enable the closure to withstand theinternal pressures while at the same time permitting proper pouring ofthe contents. In the case where there is no internal pressure to beconcerned with, such as when the contents are fruit juices, aperture 26may be appreciably larger. Vent opening 28 is preferably distantlyspaced on central panel 16 from dispensing aperture 26 and is providedfor venting the container to the atmosphere.

Raised dimples, generally designated 30 and 32, are formed in centralpanel 16 around apertures 26 and 28 respectively, as clearly seen inFIGS. 3 to 7. In this embodiment the peripheries 34 and 36 of therespective apertures 26 and 28 are sloped downwardly toward theapertures and the respective peripheral walls 38 and 40 are inclinedupwardly toward the apertures. The lower edges 42 and 44 of therespective peripheral walls 38 and 40 are preferably disposed above theplane defined by the adjacent inner surface of the central panel 16. Theupper edges 46 and 48 of the respective peripheral walls 38 and 40 areinwardly disposed with respect to the apertures and form wedgelikeprotrusions extending into the apertures.

Both apertures 26 and 28 are initially sealed by an internal sealinglayer or patch, generally designated 50,

which is adhered or bonded to the inner surface of central panel 16adjacent to the apertures. In order to prevent the contents of thecontainer from escaping, the layer or patch 50 is preferably fabricatedfrom flat sheet stock or tape comprising a suitable thin, readilytearable, pressure resistant, impervious material such as aluminum orother metal foil or laminations of metallic foils and other materials.The sealing layer or patch 50 may be of any convenient shape or size tocover the apertures and of a suitable thickness for its intendedpurpose. As clearly seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 the upper surface of patch 50is fully coated with a preapplied layer or lamination, generallydesignated 52, of an adhesive which bonds the patch to the inner surfaceof central panel 16. If desired, patch 50 may extend onto reinforcingbead 18 to thereby increased its resistance to creepage when thecontainer is subjected to internal pressures. The bottom surface ofpatch 50, as well as its exposed edges, may if desired be protected by athin coating of an inert organic resin (not shown) to protect thematerial from possible corrosive action resulting from exposure to thecontents of the container. 1

In order to reseal apertures 26 and 28 after the initial seal has beenbroken a resealing member 54 is pro vided. The resealing member ispreferably injection molded from a suitable flexible thermoplastic resinsuch as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethene, phenoxy, a vinylmodified polyurethene, a random copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid,etc. As clearly seen in FIG. 2, the resealing member 54 is basicallycomprised of a plug 56 for the dispensing aperture, a plug'58 for thevent aperture, and a pull handle 60. Plug 56 is formed with a smallerlower portion, generally designated 62, a larger upper portion,generally designated 64, and a centrally disposed inner recess 66. Asclearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, lower portion 62 of plug 56 is smallerthan aperture 26 and therefore is adapted to pass therethrough tocontact sealing layer 50. The larger portion 64 of plug 56 is providedwith a depending straight wall-having a width that is greater than boththe lower portion 62 and aperture 26 so that when the plug is forcedinto the aperture an interference fit is established between peripheralwall 38 of aperture 26 and the depending straight wall of'upper portion64 of the plug. As best seen in FIG. 7, the edge 46 of peripheral wall38 is wedged into the depending straight wall of upper portion 64 of theplug thus effectively sealing the aperture 26. A sloped transitionpiece, generally designated 68, is provided between the smaller lowerportion 62, which may have a depending straight wall, and the dependingstraight wall of the larger upper portion 64 in order to facilitate theinsertion of portion 64 into aperture 26. Recess 66 is provided in plug56 in conjunction with groove 70 for the purpose of forming a button 72and also for maintaining the wall thickness of member 54 uniformthroughout to thereby aid in the injection molding of member 54.

Plug 58 is structured similarly to plug 56 but because of its muchsmaller size it is not provided with a button corresponding to button 72of plug 56. The lower portion 74 of plug 58 is smaller than ventaperture 28 and therefore adapted to pass therethrough to contactsealing layer 50, as clearly seen in FIG. 3. Upper portion 76 of plug 58is provided with a depending wall having a width that is greater thanlower portion 74 and aperture 28, and upon insertion 28, it seals theaperture in a manner identical to that described with respect to plug56. A sloped transition piece, generally designated 78, extends betweenlower portion 74, which may be provided with a depending straight wall,and the depending straight wall of upper portion 76 of plug 58 tofacilitate insertion of upper portion 76 into aperture 28. Recess 80 inthe upper end of plug 58 extends therein to thereby maintain the wallthickness of the resealing member uniform.

Flange-like webs generally designated 82, extend circumferentiallyaround the upper extremities of plugs 56 and 58 for the purpose ofpreventing the complete insertion of the plugs into the respectiveapertures. The webs 82 around plugs 56 and 58 are integrally connectedby means of connecting web 84 which extends webs of the respectiveplugs. Pull handle 60, which may be in the form of pull ring, isconnected to flange-like web 82 surrounding the upper extremity of plug58 so that an upward pull on ring 60 will first remove plug 58 fromaperture 28 and' then plug 56 from aperture 26. Downwardly extendingprotrusions, generally designated 90, serve to maintain the reclosuremember 54 distantly spaced from the upper surface of central panel 16when member 54 is in the resealing position.

Sealing layer or patch 50 is bonded to the inner surface of centralpanel 16 by the thermoplastic adhesive layer 52 in a bonding operationwhich involves the application of heat and pressure. The adhesive layer52 may be any suitable adhesive but preferably a thermoplastic copolymersuch as an ethelyene acrylic copolymer. The lower portion of plugs 56and 58 are inserted into their respective apertures and the bottom walls86 and 88 of plugs 56 and 58 are heat bonded, by means of adhesive layer52, to sealing patch 50. The lower portion of plugs 56 and 58 aresufficiently small in relation to apertures 26 and 28 so that wheninitially inserted therein to bond to adhesive layer 52 ample clearanceexists whereby minimum contact occurs between the plugs and the .heatedend closure.

In order to open-the container, which as initially been scaled bysealing layer 50, the user merely grasps pull ring 60 and pulls itupwardly and away'from end closure 12, as clearly indicated 'by thearrow in FIG. 4. This movement of member 54 causes the sealing layer 50around the vent aperture 28 to contact the knifelike cutting edge 44 ofperipheral wall 40 thereby tearing the sealing layer 50 coextensivelywith the aperture. Continued lifting of the resealing member 54 by theuser will tear the sealing layer 50 against the knife-like edge 42 ofperipheral wall 38 of the dispensing aperture similarly to the mannerdescribed with respect to the tearing of the sealing layer at vent 28,thereby freeing the resealing memberfrom the container. When the userdesires to reseal the container he merely positions the resealing member54 so that the plugs 56 and 58 cover apertures 26 and 28 and then exertsa sufficient force on button 72 of plug 56 to insert the plug intoaperture 26 and also on recess 80 of plug 58 to insert it into aperture28. This rescaled condition of the container is clearly seen in FIG. 5where the depending straight walls of the larger upper portions of plugs56 and 58 are compression or force fitted into the apertures resultingin an interference between the peripheral walls of the apertures and thedepending straight walls of the upper portions of the plugs. It has beenfound that when in this resealed condition the contents of thecontainer, if carbonated or containing other gases, retain their gaseouscontent for a greater length of time without becoming flat. This resultis achieved because of the increased sealability of the plastic plug incooperation with the end closure.

A slightly modified form of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 8.As can be readily seen the reclosure member is substantially the same asabove described the only alteration being in the configuration of theaperture peripheries. The peripheries 134 and 136 of apertures 126 and128 are disposed parallel to central panel 116 rather than downwardlydisposed as described above. Thus, when plugs 156 and 158 are force orcompression fitted to the apertures the depending straight walls of theupper portions 164 and 176 are compressed against the peripheral walls132 and of the respective apertures.

This slight modification of the peripheries of the apertures permits theutilization of lower depending straight walls for the upper portions ofthe plugs thus lessening the required height of the resealing member.The resulting lower height of the resealing member thus lessens thepossibility of accidental opening during transportation and handling ofthe container due to objects contacting and depressing the resealingmember into the container. 1

ltis understood that the foregoing general and detailed descriptions areexemplary of the present invention and are not to be interpreted asrestrictive of the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An end closure for andeasy opening resealable container whichcomprises:

a substantially flat central panel seamed about its extremity to thecontainer body and having at least one aperture formed therein;

an internal sealing layer bonded to the inner surface of said panel andcovering said aperture;

and a non-rigid resealing member having a plug element insertable intosaid aperture, said plug element including a lower portion having awidth smaller than the aperture into which the plug ele-. ment isinsertable, a bottom wall bonded to said sealing layer, and a dependingstraight walled upper portion having a width which is larger than saidaperture so that said upper portion is insertable into said aperturewith interference between the peripheral wall of the aperture and thedepending straight wall of the upper portion of said plug element'tothereby releasably seal the container subsequent to the initial openingthereof by removal of the resealing member and tearing of the sealinglayer.

2. The end enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said resealing memberfurther includes a push button recessed into the upper extremity of saidplug element to thereby aid in inserting said plug element into saidaperture.

3. The end closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said resealing memberfurther includes a web-like flange around the upper extremity of saidplug element.

4. The end closure as defined in claim '1 wherein the peripheral wall ofsaid apperture is inclined upwardly toward said apperture so that itsupper edge wedges into the depending straight wall of the upper portionof said plug element when said upper portion is inserted into saidaperture.

5. The end closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing layercomprises a gas impermeable layer.

6. The end closure as defined in claim 5 wherein said gas impermeablelayer comprises a tearable metallic foil.

7. The end closure as defined in claim 5 wherein the metallic foilsealing layer is heat bonded to the inner surface of said panel with athermoplastic copolymer adhesive.

8. The end closure as defined in claim 7 wherein said thermoplasticcopolymer adhesive is an ethylene acrylic copolymer adhesive.

9. The end closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rescaling memberis formed of plastic and includes a pull-handle integrally formed withsaid plug.

10. The end closure as defined in claim 9 wherein the material thicknessof said rescaling member is substantially uniform.

11. The end closure as defined in claim 1 which further comprises araised dimple formed around said aperture, the periphery of saidaperture being sloped downwardly toward said aperture and disposed abovethe plane of the adjacent inner surface of said central panel and saidinternal sealing layer.

12. The end closure as defined in claim 11 wherein the peripheral wallof said aperture is inclined upwardly towards said aperture so that itslowermost edge is closest to said sealing layer and serves as aknife-like cutting edge to sever said sealing layer when said sealinglayer is moved upwardly upon removal of the sealing member from thecontainer.

13. The end closure as defined in claim 1 which further comprises araised dimple formed around said aperture, the periphery of the aperturebeing parallel to the plane of the adjacent surface of the central paneland displaced upwardly therefrom.

14. The end closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the plug element ofsaid rescaling member further includes a sloped transition between thedepending straight walled upper portion and the lower portion.

15. The end closure as defined in claim 14 wherein the lower portion ofsaid plug element is formed with a depending straight wall.

16. An end closure for an easy opening resealable container whichcomprises:

a substantially flat central panel seamed about its extremity to thecontainer body and having a dispensing aperture and a vent apertureformed therein;

an internal gas impermeable sealing layer bonded to the inner surface ofsaid panel and covering said apertures;

a raised dimple formed about each of said apertures,

the periphery of the apertures being sloped downwardly towards saidapertures and disposed above the plane of the adjacent inner surface ofthe panel, the peripheral walls of the apertures being inclined upwardlytowards the apertures so that their lowermost edges are closest to saidsealing layer and serve as knife-like cutting edges to sever saidsealing layer when the sealing layer is moved upwardly;

and a resealing member including a first plug element insertable intosaid dispensing aperture and a second plug element insertable into saidvent aperture;

said first plug element having a bottom wall, a lower portion, adepending straight walled upper portion,

a web-like flange around the upper extremity of the plug element, and apush button recessed into the upper extremity of the plug element, thelower portion having a width smaller than the dispensing aperture, thebottom wall being bonded to said sealing layer, and the dependingstraight walled I upper portion having a width which is larger than saiddispensing aperture so that the depending straight wall of said upperportion is insertable into said dispensing aperture with interferencebetween the peripheral wall of the aperture and the depending straightwall of the upper portion of said plug element, the upper edge of theperipheral wall of the dispensing aperture being wedgeable into theupper portion of said depending straight wall 'of said upper portion ofsaid plug element to thereby releasably reseal said dispensing aperturesubsequent to the initial opening thereof by removal of the resealingmember and tearing of the sealing layer;

said second plug element having a bottom wall, a lower portion, adepending straight walled upper portion, and a web-like flange aroundthe upper extremity of said plug element integrally interconnecting saidfirst and second plug elements, the lower portion having a width smallerthan said vent aperture, the bottom wall being bonded to said sealinglayer, and the depending straight walled upper portion having a widthlarger than said vent aperture so that the depending straight wall ofsaid upper portion is insertable into said vent aperture withinterference between the peripheral wall of the vent aperture and thedepending straight wall of the upper portion, the upper edgeof theperipheral wall of said vent aperture being wedgeable into the dependingstraight wall of said upper portion to thereby releasably reseal saidvent aperture subsequent to the initial opening thereof by removal ofthe rescaling member and tearing of the sealing layer.

17. An end closure for an easy opening resealable container whichcomprises:

a substantially flat central panel seamed about its extremity to thecontainer body and having a dispensing aperture and a vent apertureformed therein;

an internal gas impermeable sealing layer bonded to the inner surface ofsaid panel and covering said apertures; I

a raised dimple formed about each of said apertures, the periphery ofthe apertures being parallel to the plane of the adjacent surface of thecentral panel and displaced upwardly therfrom;

and a resealing member including a first plug element insertable intosaid dispensing aperture and a second plug element insertable into saidvent aperture;

said first plug element having a bottom wall, a lower portion, adepending straight walled upper portion, a web-like flange around theupper extremity of the plug element. and a push button recessed into theupper extremity of the plug element, the lower portion having a widthsmaller than the dispensing aperture, the bottom wall being bonded tosaid sealing layer, and the depending straight walled upper portionhaving a width larger than said dispensing aperture so that saiddepending straight wall of said upper portion is insertable into saiddispensing aperture with interference between peripheral wall of theaperture and the depending straight wall of the upper portion to therebyreleasably reseal said dispensing aperture subsequent to the initialopening thereof by removal of the resealing member and tearing of thesealing layer;

said second plug element having a bottom wall, a

lower portion, a depending straight walled upper portion, and a web-likeflange around the upper extremity of said second plug element integrallyinterconnecting said first and second plug elements,

ing member and tearing of said sealing layer.

1. An end closure for and easy opening resealable container whichcomprises: a substantially flat central panel seamed about its extremityto the container body and having at least one aperture formed therein;an internal sealing layer bonded to the inner surface of said panel andcovering said aperture; and a non-rigid resealing member having a plugelement insertable into said aperture, said plug element including alower portion having a width smaller than the aperture into which theplug element is insertable, a bottom wall bonded to said sealing layer,and a depending straight walled upper portion having a width which islarger than said aperture so that said upper portion is insertable intosaid aperture with interference between the peripheral wall of theaperture and the depending straight wall of the upper portion of saidplug element to thereby releasably seal the container subsequent to theinitial opening thereof by removal of the resealing member and tearingof the sealing layer.
 2. The end enclosure as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid resealing member further includes a push button recessed into theupper extremity of said plug element to thereby aid in inserting saidplug element into said aperture.
 3. The end closure as defined in claim1 wherein said resealing member further includes a web-like flangearound the upper extremity of said plug element.
 4. The end closure asdefined in claim 1 wherein the peripheral wall of said apperture isinclined upwardly toward said apperture so that its upper edge wedgesinto the depending straight wall of the upper portion of said plugelement when said upper portion is inserted into said aperture.
 5. Theend closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing layer comprises agas impermeable layer.
 6. The end closure as defined in claim 5 whereinsaid gas impermeable layer comprises a tearable metallic foil.
 7. Theend closure as defined in claim 5 wherein the metallic foil sealinglayer is heat bonded to the inner surface of said panel with athermoplastic copolymer adhesive.
 8. The end closure as defined in claim7 wherein said thermoplastic copolymer adhesive is an ethylene acryliccopolymer adhesive.
 9. The end closure as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid resealing member is formed of plastic and includes a pull-handleintegrally formed with said plug.
 10. The end closure as defined inclaim 9 wherein the material thickness of said resealing member issubstantially uniform.
 11. The end closure as defined in claim 1 whichfurther comprises a raised dimple formed around said aperture, theperiphery of said aperture being sloped downwardly toward said apertureand disposed above the plane of the adjacent inner surface of saidcentral panel and said internal sealing layer.
 12. The end closure asdefined in claim 11 wherein the peripheral wall of said aperture isinclined upwardly towards said aperture so that its lowermost edge isclosest to said sealing layer and serves as a knife-like cutting edge tosever said sealing layer when said sealing layer is moved upwardly uponremoval of the sealing member from the container.
 13. The end closure asdefined in claim 1 which further comprises a raised dimple formed aroundsaid aperture, the periphery of the aperture being parallel to the planeof the adjacent surface of the central panel and displaced upwardlytherefrom.
 14. The end closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the plugelement of said resealing member further includes a sloped transitionbetween the depending straight walled upper portion and the lowerportion.
 15. The end closure as defined in claim 14 wherein the lowerportion of said plug element is formed with a depending straight wall.16. An end closure for an easy opening resealable container whichcomprises: a substantially flat central panel seamed about its extremityto the container body and having a dispensing aperture and a ventaperture formed therein; an internal gas impermeable sealing layerbonded to the inner surface of said panel and covering said apertures; araised dimple formed about each of said apertures, the periphery of theapertures being sloped downwardly towards said apertures and disposedabove the plane of the adjacent inner surface of the panel, theperipheral walls of the apertures being inclined upwardly towards theapertures so that their lowermost edges are closest to said sealinglayer and serve as knife-like cutting edges to sever said sealing layerwhen the sealing layer is moved upwardly; and a resealing memberincluding a first plug element insertable into said dispensing apertureand a second plug element insertable into said vent aperture; said firstplug element having a bottom wall, a lower portion, a depending straightwalled upper portion, a web-like flange around the upper extremity ofthe plug element, and a push button recessed into the upper extremity ofthe plug element, the lower portion having a width smaller than thedispensing aperture, the bottom wall being bonded to said sealing layer,and the depending straight walled upper portion having a width which islarger than said dispensing aperture so that the depending straight wallof said upper portion is insertable into said dispensing aperture withinterference between the peripheral wall of the aperture and thedepending straight wall of the upper portion of said plug element, theupper edge of the peripheral wall of the dispensing aperture beingwedgeable into the upper portion of said depending straight wall of saidupper portion of said plug element to thereby releasably reseal saiddispensing aperture subsequent to the initial opening thereof by removalof the resealing member and tearing of the sealing layer; said secondplug element having a bottom wall, a lower portion, a depending straightwalled upper portion, and a web-like flange around the upper extremityof said plug element integrally interconnecting said first and secondplug elements, the lower portion having a width smaller than said ventaperture, the bottom wall being bonded to said sealing layer, and thedepending straight walled upper portion having a width larger than saidvent aperture so that the depending straight wall of said upper portionis insertable into said vent aperture with interference between theperipheral wall of the vent aperture and the depending straight wall ofthe upper portion, the upper edge of the peripheral wall of said ventaperture being wedgeable into the depending straight wall of said upperportion to thereby releasably reseal said vent aperture subsequent tothe initial opening thereof by removal of the resealing member andtearing of the sealing layer.
 17. An end closure for an easy openingresealable container which comprises: a substantially flat central panelseamed about its extremity to the container body and having a dispensingaperture and a vent aperture formed therein; an internal gas impermeablesealing layer bonded to the inner surface of said panel and coveringsaid apertures; a raised dimple formed about each of said apertures, theperiphery of the apertures being parallel to the plane of the adjacentsurface of the central panel and displaced upwardly therfrom; and aresealing member including a first plug element insertable into saiddispensing aperture and a second plug element insertable into said ventaperture; said first plug element having a bottom wall, a lower portion,a depending straight walled upper portion, a web-like flange around theupper extremity of the plug element, and a push button recessed into theupper extremity of the plug Element, the lower portion having a widthsmaller than the dispensing aperture, the bottom wall being bonded tosaid sealing layer, and the depending straight walled upper portionhaving a width larger than said dispensing aperture so that saiddepending straight wall of said upper portion is insertable into saiddispensing aperture with interference between peripheral wall of theaperture and the depending straight wall of the upper portion to therebyreleasably reseal said dispensing aperture subsequent to the initialopening thereof by removal of the resealing member and tearing of thesealing layer; said second plug element having a bottom wall, a lowerportion, a depending straight walled upper portion, and a web-likeflange around the upper extremity of said second plug element integrallyinterconnecting said first and second plug elements, the lower portionhaving a width smaller than said vent aperture, the bottom wall beingbonded to said sealing layer, and the depending straight walled upperportion having a width larger than said vent aperture so that thedepending straight wall of said upper portion is insertable into saidvent aperture with interference between the peripheral wall of said ventaperture and the depending straight wall of said upper portion tothereby releasably reseal said vent aperture subsequent to the initialopening thereof by removal of the resealing member and tearing of saidsealing layer.